BIRD GIRL
by Unknown · from Serbian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there was a prince. He was very sad. Prince Leo traveled far. He looked for a princess. He did not find one. He felt lonely. He felt very sad.
Prince Leo was on a high mountain. A Wise Old Man came. He had white hair. "Go to that hill," he said. "An Old Woman sits there. She has a magic bird. You must be quick. Do not let her see you first. Or you will turn to stone. Many men turned to stone."
Prince Leo went to the hill. He saw the Old Woman. She played with the bird. Her back was to him. He walked very quietly. He did not want her to see him.
Prince Leo moved fast. He surprised the Old Woman. He gently took her hand. She made a very loud noise. It was a big shout. But Prince Leo held on.
The Old Woman asked, "What do you want?" Prince Leo said, "Give me the bird. Make the stone people alive. Bring them back to life."
The Old Woman gave him the bird. She blew a blue wind. The wind went to the stone men. They woke up. They were alive again. They felt happy.
Prince Leo kissed the magic bird. Poof! The bird changed. It became a beautiful princess. Her name was Princess Lily. She had a kind face. The Old Woman trapped her. It was bad magic.
Princess Lily gave Prince Leo a stick. It was a magic stick. It could make wishes come true.
Prince Leo used the stick. He touched a rock. Gold coins came out. They took gold for their trip home.
They came to a big river. They could not cross. Prince Leo used the stick. He touched the water. The water moved apart. They walked on a dry path.
Bad wolves came. They wanted to hurt them. Prince Leo used the stick. He touched the wolves. The wolves turned into tiny ants. The ants ran away.
Prince Leo and Princess Lily came home. They were safe. They got married. They lived happily ever after. Be brave and kind. Good things happen.
Original Story
BIRD GIRL
Once upon a time lived a king, who had only one son; and when this son grew up, his father sent him to travel about the world, in order that he might find a maiden who would make him a suitable wife.
The king’s son started on his journey, and travelled through the whole world without finding anywhere a maiden whom he loved well enough to marry. Seeing then that he had taken so much trouble, and had spent so much time and money, and all to no purpose, he resolved to kill himself. With this intention he climbed to the top of a high mountain, that he might throw himself from its summit; for he wished that even his bones might never be found. Having arrived at the top of the mountain, he saw a sharp rock jutting out from one side of it, and was climbing up to throw himself from it, when he heard a voice behind him calling, “Stop! stop! O, man! Stop for the sake of three hundred and sixty-five which are in the year!” He looked back, and seeing no one, asked, “Who are you that speak to me? Let me see you. When you know how miserable I am, you will not prevent my killing myself.”
“On the summit of that hill there is an old woman who … holds a bird in her bosom.”
He had scarcely said these words when there appeared to him an old man, with hair as white as wool, who said, “I know all about you. But listen! Do you see that high hill?” “Yes, I do,” said the prince. “And do you see the multitude of marble blocks which are on it?” said the old man. “Yes, I do,” rejoined the prince. “Well, then,” continued the old man, “on the summit of that hill there is an old woman with golden hair, who sits night and day on that very spot, and holds a bird in her bosom. Whoever can get this bird into his hands will be the happiest man in the world. But be careful. If you are willing to try to get the bird, you must take the old woman by her hair before she sees you. If she sees you before you catch her by her hair, you will be changed into a stone on the spot. Thus it happened to all those young men you see standing there, as if they were blocks of marble.”
When the king’s son heard this he thought, “It is all one to me whether I die here or there. If I succeed, so much the better for me; if I fail, I can but die as I had resolved.” So he went up the hill. When he arrived near the old woman he walked very cautiously towards her, hoping to reach her unseen; for, luckily, the old woman was lying with her back towards him, sunning herself, and playing with the bird.
When near enough he sprang suddenly and caught her by the hair. Then the old woman cried out, so that the whole hill shook as with a great earthquake; but the king’s son held fast by her hair, and when she found that she could not escape she said, “What do you desire from me?” He replied, “That you should give me the bird in your bosom, and that you call back to life all these Christian souls.” The old woman consented, and gave him the bird. Then from her mouth she breathed a blue wind towards the men of stone, and immediately they again became alive. The king’s son, having the bird in his hands, was so rejoiced that he began to kiss it; and as he kissed it the bird was transformed into a most beautiful maiden.
This girl the enchantress had turned into a bird, in order that she might allure the young men to her. The girl pleased the king’s son exceedingly, and he took her with him, and prepared to return home. As he was going down the hill the girl gave him a stick, and told him the stick would do everything that he desired of it. So the king’s son struck with it once upon the rock, and in a moment there came out a mass of golden coin, of which they took plenty for use on their journey.
As they were travelling they came to a great river, and could find no place by which they could pass over; so the king’s son touched the surface of the river with his stick, and the water divided, so that a dry path lay before them, and they were able to cross over the river dryshod. A little farther they came to a herd of wolves, and the wolves attacked them, and seemed about to tear them to pieces; but the prince struck at them with his stick, and one by one the wolves were turned into ants. Thus, at length, the king’s son reached home safely with his beloved, and they were shortly after married, and lived long and happily together.
Story DNA
Moral
Even in despair, a glimmer of hope or a new challenge can lead to unexpected happiness and fulfillment.
Plot Summary
A prince, despondent after failing to find a wife, contemplates suicide. An old man intervenes, challenging him to retrieve a magical bird from an enchantress, warning that failure means being turned to stone like many others. The prince succeeds by surprising the enchantress, forcing her to yield the bird and revive the petrified men. The bird transforms into a beautiful maiden, who gives the prince a magical stick. Using the stick, they overcome various obstacles on their journey home, including conjuring gold, parting a river, and transforming attacking wolves. The prince and maiden marry and live happily ever after.
Themes
Emotional Arc
despair to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The mention of 'Christian souls' suggests a European origin, possibly from a period where Christian identity was a common descriptor.
Plot Beats (12)
- A prince travels the world to find a wife but fails, leading him to despair and a decision to commit suicide.
- On a mountain, an old man appears and tells the prince about a magical bird held by an old woman on a nearby hill, warning that failure to seize her by the hair before she sees him will result in being turned to stone.
- The prince, seeing no other option, cautiously approaches the old woman from behind while she is distracted, playing with the bird.
- He successfully grabs her by the hair, and she cries out, causing an earthquake.
- The prince demands the bird and the revival of all the petrified men on the hill.
- The old woman complies, giving him the bird and breathing a blue wind that restores the men to life.
- The prince kisses the bird, and it transforms into a beautiful maiden, who was enchanted by the old woman to lure men.
- The maiden gives the prince a magical stick that grants wishes.
- Using the stick, the prince conjures gold for their journey.
- They encounter a great river, and the prince uses the stick to part the waters, creating a dry path.
- They face a pack of attacking wolves, which the prince transforms into ants with the stick.
- The prince and the maiden arrive safely home, marry, and live happily ever after.
Characters
King's Son
A young man of noble bearing, likely of average height and build, with the healthy complexion of someone who has traveled extensively. His features are probably refined, reflecting his royal lineage.
Attire: Initially, practical but well-made traveling clothes suitable for a long journey, possibly made of sturdy wool or linen in muted colors, with a fine cloak. Upon returning home, he would wear rich court attire, perhaps a velvet tunic with embroidered sleeves and breeches, a jeweled belt, and soft leather boots.
Wants: To find a suitable wife, then to overcome his despair, and ultimately to secure happiness and return home with his beloved.
Flaw: Prone to despair and suicidal thoughts when faced with failure.
Transforms from a despairing, suicidal prince into a courageous, successful, and happily married man who has found love and purpose.
Determined, initially despairing, courageous, compassionate, loving, resourceful.
Old Man
An ancient man, likely thin and somewhat stooped with age, but possessing an air of wisdom and quiet power. His skin would be deeply wrinkled from time.
Attire: Simple, unassuming robes, perhaps of a coarse grey or brown fabric, suggesting a hermit or wise sage rather than a wealthy individual. No elaborate adornments.
Wants: To guide the King's Son towards his destiny and prevent his suicide, offering him a chance at happiness.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but his role is limited to providing information.
Introduces the central quest to the King's Son, then disappears from the narrative, having fulfilled his purpose.
Wise, mysterious, helpful, observant, calm.
Old Woman / Enchantress
An old woman, possibly frail in appearance but possessing immense magical power. Her physical form is a disguise for her true nature as an enchantress.
Attire: Simple, perhaps dark or muted clothing that allows her to blend into the environment, or perhaps something more rustic, like a coarse linen dress. Her focus is on the bird she holds.
Wants: To lure young men to her and turn them into stone, possibly to maintain her power or simply out of malice. To keep the Bird Girl captive.
Flaw: Vulnerable if caught by her hair before she sees her attacker.
Is defeated by the King's Son, forced to release her captive and undo her spells, effectively losing her power and influence.
Deceptive, powerful, cruel (turning men to stone), cunning, ultimately yielding when overpowered.
Bird Girl
Described as 'most beautiful,' implying classic beauty standards of the era: fair skin, delicate features, and a graceful figure. When a bird, she is small and beautiful.
Attire: Upon transformation, she would likely appear in simple but elegant attire, perhaps a flowing, light-colored gown of fine linen or silk, suggesting purity and grace. Later, as a princess, she would wear rich, embroidered court dresses.
Wants: To be freed from her enchantment, to find love and happiness with the King's Son.
Flaw: Vulnerable to the enchantress's magic, requiring rescue.
Transforms from an enchanted bird into a beautiful maiden, becomes the beloved wife of the King's Son, and helps him on their journey home.
Initially passive (as a bird), then grateful, wise (giving the stick), loving, and supportive.
Locations
High Mountain Summit
A desolate, high mountain summit with a sharp rock jutting out from one side, offering a perilous drop. The air is clear and the views are expansive, suggesting a remote and isolated place.
Mood: Desperate, isolated, perilous, then mysterious
The prince contemplates suicide and first encounters the old man who reveals the quest.
Hill of Stone Men
A high hill covered with a multitude of marble-like blocks, which are actually petrified young men. At its summit, an old woman with golden hair sits, sunning herself and playing with a bird.
Mood: Eerie, magical, dangerous, with an underlying sense of hope
The prince confronts the old woman, breaks her spell, and transforms the bird into a maiden, reviving the stone men.
Great River
A wide, impassable river that blocks the prince's path home. Its surface is calm until magically divided.
Mood: Obstinate, challenging, then miraculous
The prince uses the magic stick to part the river, allowing them to cross.